Iron Warriors Warhammer 40K – Part 2 (Part 2 of 5)

The Iron Warriors’ Descent into Darkness

A Legion’s Downfall

The Iron Warriors, once renowned for their mastery of siege warfare and fortress construction, found themselves increasingly relegated to garrison duties, watching over worlds brought into compliance by the Imperium. Their most notable assignment was the Iron Keep on Delgas II, where a single squad of ten Space Marines oversaw a population of 130 million.

A Crushing Burden

The constant detachment of units to serve as garrison troops took its toll on the Legion’s morale. Even Space Marines need rest, but the Great Crusade offered none. The Iron Warriors were repeatedly called upon to undertake thankless battles, such as the brutal Sak’trada Deeps Campaign against the Hrud, which resulted in heavy casualties and little strategic gain.

Fracturing Relationships

The Iron Warriors’ “typecasting” as siege engineers or garrison troops set them apart from their brother Legions, fostering resentment and marginalization. They were particularly at odds with the Imperial Fists, whose Primarch, Rogal Dorn, often boasted about the defenses constructed around the Imperial Palace on Terra. Perturabo, the Iron Warriors’ Primarch, seethed with anger and hurt pride, unable to let the insults pass.

Bloodshed and Betrayal

As the Horus Heresy unfolded, the Iron Warriors’ actions became increasingly erratic and violent. They turned against their fellow Space Marine Legions, slaughtering the Raven Guard and Iron Hands during the Drop Site Massacre on Isstvan V. Their own homeworld, Olympia, had revolted against Imperial rule, prompting Perturabo to lead his Legion in a campaign of genocide, killing millions and decimating cities.

Trapped in the Eye of Terror

Following the massacre on Isstvan V, the Iron Warriors joined forces with Fulgrim to pursue an ancient weapon known as the Angel Exterminatus. However, they soon found themselves trapped by a singularity in the heart of the Eye of Terror. In a desperate bid to escape, they dove straight into the Eye, emerging on the other side of the Warp in the Tallarn System.

A Protracted Conflict

On Tallarn, Perturabo became fixated on acquiring the Black Oculus, a powerful artifact hidden beneath the planet’s surface. The intended hit-and-seize raid turned into a protracted conflict, as both the Traitors and the Imperium poured war material into the fray. Over a million armored vehicles clashed across the desert, resulting in one of the largest tank battles in Imperial history.

Rebuilding and Reckoning

The Iron Warriors’ losses on Tallarn were catastrophic, forcing Perturabo to launch a mass recruitment program to replenish their strength. As the Horus Heresy raged on, the Legion’s actions became increasingly erratic, driven by a toxic mix of loyalty, betrayal, and desperation. Their fate, like that of the Imperium itself, hung in the balance, as the galaxy burned and the very fabric of reality seemed to unravel.

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